Since 3 September 2022, patients needing an X-Ray at Petersfield Hospital’s Urgent Treatment Centre (UTC) have been able to access them at the weekend thanks to extended opening times that are already having an impact.
The UTC is open daily from 8am to 8pm, and the X-Ray facilities are available from 9am to 4pm seven days a week.
The X-Ray service is seeing an average of 15 people a day at the weekend with on-the-day urgent needs. Over a month, the team will see close to 500 people who might otherwise have had to go to an Accident and Emergency department.
Around 2,200 people use Petersfield Urgent Treatment Centre (UTC) every month, with over 70% of people seen, treated, and discharged within two hours. With an average wait time of only 55 minutes compared to much longer waits at emergency departments, the UTC is one of the quickest ways of having a minor injury seen diagnosed and treated.
Paul Fisher, UTC service lead at Petersfield hospital, said: “We’re really happy to be able to extend the hours of our X-Ray service to cover weekends. This enables us to diagnose and treat so many people from our community who would otherwise have had to spend several hours in A&E. This helps to support our colleagues in the acute hospital by relieving some of the pressure they inevitably face.”
Dr Zaid Hirmiz, local GP and Clinical Director for South East at Hampshire & Isle of Wight Integrated Care Board, said:“Urgent Treatment Centres are a fantastic resource for our local communities and can help with a wide range of on-the-day urgent needs, from suspected broken limbs to throat infections.
"We are really pleased to be able to announce the extension of the operating hours where X-Ray is available at the amazing facility at Petersfield, working with our dedicated healthcare provider teams. This winter it’s really important for you to choose well to get the right care for you – if you’re not sure where to go, try the 111 online service first for non life threatening issues.”
X-Ray services are provided by Portsmouth Hospitals University Trust. The UTC is run by Southern Health NHS Foundation Trust and is GP-led, staffed by a multi-disciplinary team of health professionals. Staff at the UTC can treat a range of urgent, on-the-day common issues, including strains and sprains, skins infections and rashes, ear and throat infections, suspected broken limbs, eye problems, emergency contraception, minor injuries, minor burns and many other conditions.